Glades County
Population 13,270 (2025) 807 sq mi
67 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Glades County since 1851, 32 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1935 (Category 4).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195026
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger114
- Wildfire burn scars since 198493
At a glance
The record for Glades County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Acres burned since 1984
245,201
12th of 67 in Florida
93 large fires; the largest was Moonshine Bay, 2007
DetailsTornadoes since 1950
26
49th of 67 in Florida
Fewer than the typical Florida county, which has had 44
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF3
October 9, 2024, 15.5 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 4
Hurricane (unnamed), 1935, 46.8 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.9 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
October 9, 2024
EF3, 15.5 mile path
250 yards wide.
Deadliest
June 17, 1982
1 killed, F2
4 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
EF3, 15.5 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 15.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 29.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 17.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 28, 2022 | EF0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 16, 2016 | EF1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 2012 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2011 | EF0 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2011 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 2009 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2002 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 2002 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1998 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 2, 1998 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1997 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 1997 | F0 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 19, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1989 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1985 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 1982 | F2 | 8.0 | 4 | 1 |
| Mar 19, 1975 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1970 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1970 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Glades County: 0.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
67 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 32 at hurricane strength, 5 as major hurricanes.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 3, 1935
Unnamed storm, Category 4
46.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 150 mph.
Most recent
October 10, 2024
Milton, Category 2
54.7 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Milton | 2024 | 54.7 | Category 2 |
| Nicole | 2022 | 39.0 | Tropical storm |
| Ian | 2022 | 14.3 | Category 3 |
| Alex | 2022 | 0.0 | Disturbance |
| Sally | 2020 | 73.4 | Tropical storm |
| Isaias | 2020 | 79.5 | Tropical storm |
| Gordon | 2018 | 67.6 | Tropical storm |
| Irma | 2017 | 8.5 | Category 1 |
| Matthew | 2016 | 81.1 | Category 3 |
| Fay | 2008 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Wilma | 2005 | 26.8 | Category 3 |
| Tammy | 2005 | 69.9 | Tropical storm |
| Katrina | 2005 | 72.1 | Category 1 |
| Jeanne | 2004 | 15.0 | Category 2 |
| Frances | 2004 | 18.6 | Category 1 |
| Charley | 2004 | 30.8 | Category 4 |
| Gabrielle | 2001 | 53.0 | Tropical storm |
| Irene | 1999 | 36.9 | Category 1 |
| Harvey | 1999 | 44.9 | Tropical storm |
| Mitch | 1998 | 9.1 | Tropical storm |
| Jerry | 1995 | 21.1 | Tropical storm |
| Erin | 1995 | 45.6 | Category 1 |
| Gordon | 1994 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Andrew | 1992 | 78.0 | Category 4 |
| Marco | 1990 | 64.0 | Tropical storm |
| Keith | 1988 | 46.1 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1985 | 9.9 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 1984 | 19.4 | Tropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 40.1 | Category 2 |
| Dottie | 1976 | 46.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1974 | 62.0 | Subtropical storm |
| Abby | 1968 | 26.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1966 | 74.0 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1966 | 90.0 | Category 2 |
| Isbell | 1964 | 33.3 | Category 1 |
| Cleo | 1964 | 23.0 | Tropical storm |
| Florence | 1960 | 25.5 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 17.7 | Category 2 |
| Judith | 1959 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1959 | 93.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 10.9 | Tropical storm |
| Hazel | 1953 | 8.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1952 | 42.7 | Tropical storm |
| How | 1951 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| King | 1950 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Easy | 1950 | 85.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1948 | 79.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1948 | 18.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 68.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 32.4 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 71.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 1.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 37.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 58.8 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 33.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1939 | 20.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 57.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 60.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 68.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 46.8 | Category 4 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 9.6 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 55.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1930 | 73.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 82.4 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 0.0 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 60.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 37.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 32.8 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 65.1 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1925 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 59.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 99.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 90.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 24.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 82.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 8.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 0.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 88.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 54.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 27.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 18.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 87.8 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 50.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 55.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 23.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 65.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 37.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 75.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 21.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 54.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 71.6 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 85.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 9.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 3.1 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 94.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 10.5 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 92.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 87.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 35.3 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 16.0 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1870 | 4.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1865 | 49.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 88.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 73.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1858 | 65.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 71.4 | Tropical storm |
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
245,201 acres burned in 93 large fires since 1984, equal to 47% of the land.
Largest
February 24, 2007
Moonshine Bay Fire, 38,633 acres
38,664 acres inside Glades County.
Most recent
July 14, 2024
Roberson Dr (22) Fire
2,392 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Roberson Dr (22) | 2024 | 2,491 | 2,392 |
| Crane Island | 2017 | 4,886 | 5,100 |
| Curry 11 | 2017 | 1,655 | 1,653 |
| Boars Hammock | 2015 | 790 | 789 |
| Squirrel Island | 2014 | 528 | 527 |
| Indian Prairie Marsh | 2014 | 4,896 | 4,894 |
| Monkey Box | 2012 | 865 | 866 |
| Indian Prairie | 2011 | 1,954 | 1,953 |
| Saturday | 2011 | 451 | 688 |
| Persimmons | 2011 | 1,047 | 1,234 |
| Lightning Strike | 2011 | 445 | 523 |
| Hutto Fire | 2011 | 1,585 | 1,693 |
| 9 Mile | 2011 | 593 | 598 |
| Unnamed | 2011 | 2,349 | 2,346 |
| Unnamed | 2011 | 573 | 573 |
| Unnamed | 2009 | 5 | 2,193 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 4 | 1,452 |
| East Tucker | 2008 | 845 | 844 |
| Myakka Cut | 2008 | 36,877 | 36,847 |
| Grassy Island | 2008 | 1,719 | 1,961 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 809 | 808 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 176 | 1,994 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 1,297 | 1,775 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 717 | 715 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 1,459 | 1,457 |
| Frog Light | 2007 | 19,768 | 20,167 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 1,346 | 1,342 |
| Longleaf 527 | 2007 | 146 | 638 |
| Fbi 2 Fire | 2007 | 759 | 763 |
| Moonshine Bay | 2007 | 38,664 | 38,633 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 2,063 | 2,065 |
| Sour Orange | 2007 | 2,485 | 2,482 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 1,089 | 1,092 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 1,397 | 1,395 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 1,654 | 1,654 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 547 | 547 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 793 | 796 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 1,441 | 1,441 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 1,072 | 1,075 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 1,363 | 1,366 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 34 | 4,586 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 781 | 781 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 534 | 534 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 714 | 713 |
| Babcock | 2004 | 224 | 1,899 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 2,273 | 2,273 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,107 | 1,103 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,757 | 1,760 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 2,481 | 2,480 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,053 | 1,054 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 2,115 | 2,112 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,260 | 1,255 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,178 | 1,177 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 680 | 679 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,932 | 3,026 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 894 | 904 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 267 | 1,191 |
| Unnamed | 1999 | 1,310 | 1,305 |
| Unnamed | 1998 | 695 | 693 |
| Unnamed | 1997 | 6,073 | 6,063 |
| Unnamed | 1996 | 796 | 797 |
| Unnamed | 1996 | 988 | 2,710 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 2,624 | 2,629 |
| Unnamed | 1993 | 1,696 | 1,694 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 1,117 | 1,113 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 36 | 1,176 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 524 | 525 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 1,436 | 1,433 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 3,945 | 3,942 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 909 | 908 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 3,864 | 3,863 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 5,945 | 5,934 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 2,069 | 2,066 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 805 | 805 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 4,516 | 4,518 |
| Unnamed | 1992 | 1,837 | 1,836 |
| Unnamed | 1991 | 982 | 1,946 |
| Unnamed | 1991 | 20 | 1,293 |
| Unnamed | 1991 | 1,023 | 1,025 |
| Unnamed | 1991 | 746 | 744 |
| Unnamed | 1991 | 1,314 | 1,313 |
| Unnamed | 1991 | 1,242 | 1,242 |
| Unnamed | 1990 | 4,752 | 4,746 |
| Unnamed | 1990 | 2,705 | 2,704 |
| Unnamed | 1990 | 16,252 | 16,238 |
| Unnamed | 1990 | 778 | 779 |
| Unnamed | 1990 | 3,512 | 3,509 |
| Unnamed | 1990 | 1,408 | 1,405 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 1,153 | 1,678 |
| Unnamed | 1986 | 2,566 | 2,564 |
| Unnamed | 1984 | 114 | 1,170 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 9 days
Heavy smoke on 1 day in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
2.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
1 day
Medium or heavy smoke. 4 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
56 federal flood insurance claims since 1985, with $394,000 paid.
Most claims in one year
2008: 15 claims
$75,000 paid.
2nd most
2005: 10 claims
$31,000 paid.
3rd most
2004: 8 claims
$136,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 34974 | 26 | $186,000 |
| 33471 | 21 | $76,000 |
| 33935 | 8 | $122,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood11
- Flash Flood4
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
Most severe crest
September 13, 2017
Fisheating Creek at Palmdale, 10.35 ft
3.35 feet above the 7.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
September 13, 2017
Fisheating Creek at Palmdale, 10.35 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Fisheating Creek at Palmdale | 7.0 | 10.35 ft | 2 |
| Fisheating Creek near Lakeport at Highway 78 | 17.0 | — | 0 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 94 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 13 months.
94
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
19
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
56
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
February 2001
−4.59, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
13 months
March 2007 to March 2008.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.41, extreme drought
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the county in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.
Severe weather and other events
241 events in the National Weather Service record, 227 of them since 1996.
15
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
0
Hail, 2 inches or larger
32
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
0
Winter weather events since 1996
1
Heat events since 1996
32
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
February 13, 1995
1.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
May 31, 2002
81 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 2 | 1 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Oct 9, 2024Tornado$20.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A severe tornado was initially observed in images captured over the western Lake|Okeechobee littoral shelf from the Harney Pond WeatherSTEM camera around 1:30 PM|EST in Glades County. The debris from the littoral shelf and associated vegetation was lofted in the air producing a tornadic debris signature detectable by the distant Miami|radar by 1:35 PM EST. The first observed property damage attributable to this tornado was in the Sarasota Colony neighborhood of Lakeport where the tornado demolished the second story dwellings of three well-built homes and then proceeded to cross Florida State Road 78 into the Fishermans Lane neighborhood where it destroyed the roofs and broke…
- Sep 4, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Glades$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical depression in the deep tropical Atlantic on August 25 about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and reached hurricane strength on August 26. Frances became a Category 4 Hurricane on August 28 while about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Frances then moved generally west northwest and weakened to a Category 2 hurricane while crossing the northwest Bahamas. After stalling for about 12 hours on September 4 in the Florida Straits between Grand Bahama Island and the southeast Florida coast, the center of the nearly 70-mile diameter eye crossed the Florida coast near Sewalls Point, at 1 A.M. EDT, September 5, 2004 with the southern…
- Sep 25, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Glades$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Jeanne formed from a tropical depression just east of the Leeward Islands on September 13. She moved across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola then turned north into the Atlantic and became a hurricane on September 20. Jeanne made a clockwise loop for three days in the Atlantic north of Hispaniola before moving west northwest. It strengthened to a Category 3 Hurricane while over the northwest Bahamas and then make landfall around 11 P.M., September 25 near the south end of Hutchinson Island, nearly coincident with the landfall point of Hurricane Frances nearly three week before. The 40-mile diameter eye was not quite as large as Frances, but the southern eyewall again affected…
- Aug 18, 2008Tropical Storm, Glades$120,000
National Weather Service narrative
The center of Tropical Storm Fay moved across Key West early in the evening of the 18th and into the mainland of South Florida at Cape Romano shortly before 5 AM on the 19th. Minimum central pressure was 989 MB at landfall, but continued to decrease after landfall to 986 MB at Moore Haven on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be around 52 knots (60 MPH) at landfall, however as the storm tracked across the western Everglades and Southwest Florida the radar presentation continued to organize and winds increased to around 56 knots (65 MPH) around Moore Haven. A maximum wind gust of 69 knots (79 MPH) was recorded on a South Florida Water…
- Feb 2, 1998Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado touched down in Buckhead Ridge. Two homes had their roofs torn off. Ten homes had roof damage. Numerous trees and powerlines down.
- Aug 19, 2008Flood$80,000
National Weather Service narrative
Rainfall amounts ranged 7 to 10 inches over northern Collier, Hendry and Glades counties near the path of the center of Fay. Isolated areas in northeastern Hendry and southeastern Glades counties received well in excess of 10 inches, with Moore Haven recorded the highest storm total rainfall of 16.17 inches recorded in the 48-hour period ending at 8 AM on Wednesday, August 20th. Extensive flooding was observed over the areas with the highest totals, especially over Hendry and Glades counties. Hardest hit areas were the Felda and Montura areas in Hendry County, and the Muse and Moore Haven areas in Glades counties. Dozens of homes sustained damage from water intrusion, primarily in…
- Jun 2, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$75,000
National Weather Service narrative
Strong Thunderstorms moved inland from Lake Okeechobee and into Buckhead Ridge producing damage to two homes, with one becoming uninhabitable. The resident of the mobile home was watching television and heard the wind pick up and noticed water coming through the ceiling and around the ceiling fan. She then ran for cover while the roof lifted off. Destruction to the mobile home was 80% with 100% destruction occurring to an addition. Amount of damage to second home was unknown.
- Sep 10, 2017Flood$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Glades County Emergency Management reported the closure of State Road 29 due to flooding from State Road 78 halfway up to Palmdale, as well as State Road 78 east from State Road 29 to U.S. 27. Extensive sheet flow flooding affected western and southern Glades County to Muse and the Hendry County line. Also, flooding from Fisheating Creek affected the campground adjacent to U.S. 27 in Palmdale.||Rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches were widespread across the area, with estimates of 16 to 20 inches over parts of western Glades County.
- Aug 5, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Barn was destroyed. power lines were downed and trees uprooted.
- Oct 18, 2011Tornado$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado rated at EF-0 moved across Lakeport in Glades County. The tornado damaged approximately 30 manufactured homes. Damage was mostly minor with siding peeled off and some roof and tree damage. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Moore Haven Lock 1, 7.4 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1918.
- All-time high
- 103°FJul 8, 1932
- All-time low
- 23°F4 times, most recently Dec 25, 1989
- Warmest night
- 86°FAug 30, 1952
- Coldest day
- 41°FDec 25, 1989
- Wettest day
- 11.67 inAug 20, 2008
- Hottest year
- 2015mean 77.9°F
- Coldest year
- 2010mean 71.3°F
- Wettest year
- 200866.15 in
- Driest year
- 198129.63 in
Station Moore Haven Lock 1 (USC00085895), 35 ft elevation, 7.4 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1918 to October 27, 2026; 95.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
37 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Milton, October 11, 2024.
| Oct 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834-FL |
| Oct 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622-FL |
| Aug 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806-FL |
| Aug 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605-FL |
| Dec 13, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4680-FL |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Tropical Storm | EM-3587-FL |
| Sep 29, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4673-FL |
| Sep 24, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3584-FL |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4486-FL |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3432-FL |
| Aug 30, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3419-FL |
| Sep 10, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4337-FL |
| Sep 5, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3385-FL |
| Oct 6, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3377-FL |
| Oct 18, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4084-FL |
| Aug 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1785-FL |
| Aug 21, 2008 | Severe Storm | EM-3288-FL |
| Jun 27, 2007 | Fire | FM-2696-FL |
| Oct 24, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1609-FL |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3220-FL |
| Sep 26, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1561-FL |
| Sep 4, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1545-FL |
| Aug 13, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1539-FL |
| Feb 19, 2001 | Fire | FM-2354-FL |
| Feb 5, 2001 | Freezing | DR-1359-FL |
| Oct 20, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1306-FL |
| Oct 15, 1999 | Hurricane | EM-3150-FL |
| Sep 22, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1300-FL |
| Apr 27, 1999 | Fire | EM-3139-FL |
| Apr 15, 1999 | Fire | FM-2251-FL |
| Sep 25, 1998 | Hurricane | EM-3131-FL |
| Jun 18, 1998 | Fire | DR-1223-FL |
| Jan 6, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1195-FL |
| Mar 13, 1993 | Tornado | DR-982-FL |
| Jan 15, 1990 | Freezing | DR-851-FL |
| Jan 31, 1977 | Freezing | DR-526-FL |
| Sep 14, 1965 | Hurricane | DR-209-FL |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Glades County stands among 67 counties in Florida and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 26 | 49 / 67 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 1 | 16 / 67 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 67 | 34 / 67 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 32 | 7 / 67 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 245,201 | 12 / 67 |
| Flood insurance claims | 56 | 63 / 67 |
| Flood insurance paid | $394,000 | 64 / 67 |
| Disaster declarations | 37 | 52 / 67 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 15 | 63 / 67 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 64 | 65 / 67 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 0 | — |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $28.0 million | 52 / 67 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 2 | 44 / 67 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 94 | 64 / 67 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 2.5 | 52 / 67 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Charlotte County | 66 | 69 |
| Hendry County | 34 | 80 |
| Highlands County | 49 | 68 |
| Lee County | 132 | 74 |
| Martin County | 43 | 69 |
| Okeechobee County | 27 | 72 |
| Palm Beach County | 199 | 82 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00085895.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.